Automatically openable and closable umbrella

ABSTRACT

An improvement of an automatically openable and closable umbrella of the type comprising a shaft composed of relatively telescoping shaft members, rings mounted on said shaft and carrying inner ends of ribs, supporting spokes and tension springs for automatically closing the umbrella, a compression spring mounted within said shaft and adapted to extend the telescoping shaft members thereby to change the relative positions of said rings and automatically open the umbrella, and latches for controlling the operation of the tension and compression springs, wherein the improvement resides in the provision of a steppedly extensible rod assembly mounted within said shaft and adapted to steppedly allow the expansion of said compression spring in order to avoid abrupt one-stroke expansion of the spring which will cause an excessive shock to the structural elements of the umbrella.

United States Patent [4 1 June 27, 1972 Sato [54] AUTOMATICALLY OPENABLEAND CLOSABLE UMBRELLA [72] inventor: Yoshio Sato, Nagareyama, Japan [73]Assignee: Kabusltllti Keisha Ideal, Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: March 3,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 120,427

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr.2l, 1970 Japan.......45/34l99 v (52 vs. Cl .L ..l35/24, 135/26 [5 1] Int. Cl. A45!) 25/14[58] Field of Search ..l35/22-24 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,109,854 9/1914 McCabe ..l35/22 1,541,278 6/1925 Pugel ..l35/221,642,336

9/1927 Friedrichs ..l35/22 X Primary Examiner-Kenneth DowneyAttorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [57] ABSTRACT An improvement of anautomatically openable and closabie umbrella of the type comprising ashaft composed of relatively I telescoping shaft members, rings mountedon said shaft and carrying inner ends of ribs, supporting spokes andtension springs for automatically closing the umbrella, a compressionspring mounted within said shaft and adapted to extend the telescopingshaft members thereby to change the relative positions of said rings andautomatically open the umbrella, and latches for controlling theoperation of the tension and compression springs, wherein theimprovement resides in the provision of a steppedly extensible rodassembly mounted within said shaft and adapted to steppedly allow theexpansion of said compression spring in order to avoid abrupt one-strokeexpansion of the spring which will cause an excessive shock to thestructural elements of the umbrella.

3 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures MTENTEDJUHZ? 1972 3,672,382

SHEET 3 or 7 mvgwmm BY mm 54% PNETEOJUHZ? m2 3.672.382

SHEET 6 UF 7 INVENTOR.

PNENTEDJUMN I972 SHEET 7 0F 7 INVENTOR.

AUTOMATICALLY OPENABLE AND CLOSABLE UMBRELLA This invention relates toan automatically openable and closable umbrella, and more particularly,an improvement of an automatically openable and closable umbrella suchas disclosed in US. Pat. application No. 59,389, filed on July 30, 1970.

In the abovementioned patent application, there has been disclosed anautomatically openable and closable umbrella comprising a shaft having atubular outer shaft member slidably housing therein upper, intermediateand lower inner tubular shaft members, a first ring fixed to an upperportion of said upper inner shaft member and pivotally carrying ribs andtension spring means for closing the umbrella, said spring means eachbeing connected at one end to an intermediate portion of each of theribs and at the other end to the ring at a position spaced from thepivotally mounting position of the ribs, a second ring fixed to theouter shaft member below said first ring and pivotally carrying firstsupporting spokes for supporting the ribs when they are opened, a thirdring slidably mounted on said outer shaft member below said second ringand pivotally carrying connecting rods for said supporting spokes, afourth ringslidablymounted on said outer shaft member below said thirdring and pivotally carrying second supporting spokes for restricting theribs when they are closed, a first compression Spring for opening theumbrella mounted within said outer shaft member and retained betweensaid intermediate and lower inner shaft members, a second compressionspring for opening the umbrella mounted on said outer shaft member andretained between said third ring and a ring washer which is slidablymounted on said outer shaft member and connected with said intermediateinner shaft member to be co-slidable therewith along said outer shaft, afirst latch adapted to selectively engage said fourth ring with saidouter shaft member, and a second latch adapted to selectively engagesaid outer shaft member with said lower inner shaft member.

In the umbrella of the abovementioned prior art, automatic opening ofthe umbrella is effected by a combined action of the first and secondcompression springs upon unlatching of the first latch, which liberatesthe restriction of the fourth ring at its umbrella closing position. Inthis case, there is an advantage that the displacement of the third ringnecessary to fully open the umbrella is partially undertaken by theexpansion of the first compression spring and that of the secondcompression spring, whereby the dimensional limitation imposed on thesprings is relatively moderate, or in other words, it is allowable tochoose a relatively large total length of the spring means, andtherefore, the required displacement of the third ring can beaccomplished under a relatively constant spring force. However, theumbrella of this prior art includes the second compression spring whichis exposed outside, and therefore, is inconvenient in the point that theexposed spring presents an uneven surface liable to catch alienmaterials.

If said second compression spring is dispensed with to avoid theabovementioned drawback by that the share of the required displacementundertaken by the second compression spring be covered by the firstcompression spring, the compression or expansion ratio of the firstspring must be increased to provide a larger displacement with apredetermined level of spring force at the final stage of an enlargedexpansion. In this case, however, there is a disadvantage that thehighly compressed spring expands impulsively when the restrictionimposed on it is liberated, whereby there is a danger that various partsof the umbrella are subject to a shock in opening of the umbrella andthereby to earlier fatigue.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to remove theabovementioned drawbacks in the umbrella of the prior art and to providean improved automatically openable and closable umbrella.

The abovementioned object is, according to this invention, accomplishedby an automatically openable and closable umbrella comprising a shafthaving a tubular outer shaft member slidably housing therein upper,intermediate and lower inner tubular shaft members, a first ring fixedto an upper portion of said upper inner shaft member and pivotallycarrying ribs and tension spring means for closing the umbrella, saidspring means each being connected at one end to an intermediate portionof each of the ribs and at the other end to the ring at a positionspaced from the pivotally mounting position of the ribs, a second ringfixed to the outer shaft member below said first ring and pivotallycarrying first supporting spokes for supporting the ribs when they areopened, a third ring slidably mounted on said outer shaft member belowsaid second ring and connected with said intermediate inner shaft memberto be co-slidable therewith along said outer shaft member and pivotallycarrying connecting rods, a fourth ring slidably mounted on said outershaft member below said third ring and pivotally carrying secondsupporting spokes for restricting the ribs when they are closed, acompression spring for opening the umbrella mounted within said outershaft member and held between said intermediate and lower inner shaftmembers, a first latch adapted to selectively engage said fourth ringwith said outer shaft member, and a second latch adapted to selectivelyengage said outer shaft member with said lower inner shaft member,characterized by a guide rod assembly mounted within said outer shaftmember and connecting said intermediate and lower inner shaft members ina manner of steppedly allowing extension of the distance between saidintermediate and lower inner shaft members caused by said compressionspring.

In the following, this invention is described in the form of a preferredembodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the umbrella frame ofthis invention in its completely closed condition, wherein beads formedat the tips of the ribs are engaged with a bead-anchoring ring;

FIG. 2 is a similar view as FIG. 1, showing a condition of the umbrellaframe ready to be opened with the beads being released from thebead-anchoring ring;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the same umbrellaframe, showing its opened condition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the same umbrellaframe, showing its automatically closed condition caused by releasingrestricting engagement between the outer shaft member and the lowerinner shaft member;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the upper portions of the um brella frameshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view brella frame shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view brella frame shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of brella frame shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a guide rod adapted to be mounted withinthe outer shaft member along the axis thereof;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a coil spring adapted to be mountedaround the guide rod;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a stopper core member adapted to beconnected with the upper end of the guide rod;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a stopper core member adapted to beconnected with the lower end of the guide rod;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a ring washer adapted to be mounted ata lower portion of the guide rod; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a ring washer adapted to be mounted atan upper portion of the guide rod.

It is to be noted that like reference numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the shaft of the umbrella comprises, incombination, a tubular outer shaft member 1 slidably housing thereinthree tubular inner shaft members, i.e. an upper inner shaft member 2,an intermediate inner shaft member 3, and a lower inner shaft member 4.The upper inner shaft member 2 protrudes outwardly from the upper end ofthe outer shaft member 1. On a protruding portion of the of the upperportions of the um of the upper portions of the umthe upper portions ofthe umupper inner shaft member 2, there is fixedly mounted a first ring6 pivotally carrying inner ends of ribs 5, while an auxiliary ringportion 6a integrally formed on the ring 6 carries inner ends of tensionrods 8 each including a tension spring 7 adapted to be expanded toaccumulate the force of restitution when the ribs are spread at the timeof opening the umbrella.

A lower portion of the lower inner shaft member 4 protrudes from thelower end of the outer shaft member 1, and is received in and secured toa central bore of a grip 9. The intermediate inner shaft member 3 isfully received in the outer shaft member 1, and a compression coilspring 10 is mounted between the intermediate inner shaft member 3 andthe lower inner shaft member 4.

A second ring 12 is fixed to the upper end of the outer shaft member 1by a pin 11, which in turn is received in elongated slits 13 formed inthe upper inner shaft member 2 at diametrically opposite positionsthereof. The second ring 12 pivotally supports inner ends of shortauxiliary spokes 14a, which are respectively slidably received intubular spokes 14 to constitute extensible supporting spokes. Outer endsof the spokes 14 are respectively pivotally connected to intermediateportions of the ribs 5 by way of fittings 15, which also pivotally mountouter ends of the spring 7.

A third ring 18 is slidably mounted on the outer shaft member 1 and isconnected with the upper end of the intermediate inner shaft member 3 byway of a pin 16 which diametrically penetrates the third ring 18 and theintermediate inner shaft member 3 and is slidably received in elongatedslits 17 formed in the outer shaft member 1 at diametrically oppositepositions thereof. The third ring 18 pivotally supports inner ends ofconnecting rods 19, the other ends of which are pivotally connected toproper portions of the supporting spokes.

A stopper core member 20, such as shown in FIG. 11, is slidably receivedin the intermediate inner shaft member 3. The stopper core member 20 isformed a longitudinal slit 21 and a bore 24. A pin 22 is passed throughthe slit 21 and fixed to the wall of the intermediate Inner shaftmember, whereby the stopper core member 20 is axially movable withrespect to the intermediate inner shaft member 3 within the length ofthe slit 21. The stopper core member 20 is further formed an axial boreextending from the bottom surface thereof, into which is received theupper end portion of a guide rod 23, such as shown in FIG. 9, and isconnected with the guide rod by a pin 25 penetrating the bore 24 of thestopper core member 20 and a corresponding bore 24a of the guide rod 23.At the lower end of the intermediate inner shaft member 3 is engaged aring washer 26, through the central bore of which extends the guide rod23 downward along the axis of the outer shaft member 1. The lower end ofthe guide rod 23 is received in an axial bore of a lower stopper coremember 27 and is connected therewith by a pin 28. The stopper coremember 27 may be the same element as the stopper core member 20 used inreversed position, and is mounted in the lower inner shaft member 4 by apin 29 passing through its longitudinal slit 30 so that the stopper coremember 27 is axially movable with respect to the lower inner shaftmember 4 within the length of the slit 30. At the upper end of theintermediate inner shaft member 4 is engaged a ring washer 31, throughthe central bore of which extends the guide rod 23.

A strong compression coil spring 10 is mounted around the guide rod 23between the ring washers 26 and 31.

A fourth ring 32 is slidably mounted on the outer shaft member 1 andpivotally carries inner ends of second supporting spokes 33, which, atthe outer ends thereof are pivotally connected to fittings a mounted onthe ribs 5 near the fittings 15. The fourth ring 32 is integrally formedwith a tubular grip sleeve 34, which is also slidably mounted on theouter shaft member 1 and is provided with a spring-actuated latch 35pivotally mounted at the lower end thereof. The tip of the latch 35 isso adapted as to be engaged into a small hole la formed at a lower endportion of the outer shaft member 1 through a correspondingthrough-opening 36 of the grip sleeve 34 urged by a spring force therebyto hold the fourth ring 32 and the grip sleeve 34 at their lowest endpositions as shown in FIG. 1.

Within the lower inner shafl member 4, there is provided a spring latch37, a claw portion 37a of which is engaged into a hole 1b of the outershaft member 1 to hold the outer shaft member in the latched positionwith respect to the lower inner shaft member. The claw portion 370 isdisengaged from the hole 1b when a push button portion 37b of the latchis pushed by a finger, whereby the axial restriction between the outershaft member 1 and the lower inner shaft member 4.

The latch 35 is disengaged when the umbrella is to be opened, and thelatch 37 is disengaged when the umbrella is to be closed. A cover member38 of a proper shape is provided to prevent a wrong operation of thelatches 35 and 37.

The umbrella of the structure as described in the above operates asfollows:

When a bead collector 39 is displaced from the position as shown in FIG.1 downward to release the beads of the ribs 5, the ribs are slightlyopened to take the position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Then, by pushingthe latch 35 thereby to disengage the tip of the latch 35 from the hole1a of the outer shaft member, the fourth ring 32 (as well as the gripsleeve 34) is released from the restriction to its lowest position andcan now move freely upward. Thus, the restriction applied to thecompression spring 10 mounted within the outer shaft 1 and held betweenthe intermediate and lower inner shaft members 3 and 4 is removed, andtherefore, the spring 10 can now expand. Since in this case the umbrellais held by the grip 9, and the lower inner shaft member 4 as well as theouter shaft member 1 stationarily engaged with the lower inner shaftmember 4 are held by the grip 9, the expansion of the compression coilspring 10 mounted between the upper and lower ring washers 26 and 31urges exclusively the upper ring washer 26 upward thereby to lift theintermediate inner shaft member 3 through the outer shaft member 1.

By the upward movement of the intermediate inner shaft member 3, the pin22 fixed to the shaft member 3 moves upward through the slit 21 of thestopper core member 20 until the pin 22 abuts against the upper end ofthe slit 21. Thereafter, the stopper core member 20 is pulled upward bythe intermediate inner shaft member 3 as a unit therewith. Since thestopper core member 20 is firmly connected with the guide rod 23, thelatter is also pulled up together with the stopper core member 20. Theupward movement of the guide rod 23 causes the same upward movement ofthe lower stopper core member 27 firmly connected with the guide rod 23,whereby the pin 29 passed through the slit 30 of the stopper member 27and carried by the lower inner shaft member 4 traverses the length ofthe slit 30, until at last the pin 29 abuts against the lower end of theslit 30. By the upward movement of the intermediate inner shaft member3, the third ring 18 connected with the intermediate inner shaft member3 by the pin 16 is shifted upward with the pin 16 being guided throughthe slits 17. As the third ring 18 approaches the second ring 12, theconnecting rods 19 are extended outward thereby to extend the spokes 14and 14a outward. At the same time, the upper ends of the intermediateinner shaft member 3 abuts against the lower end of the upper innershaft member 2 and urges the latter upward with the slits 13 thereofbeing guided by the pin 11 connecting the second ring 12 and the outershaft member 1, whereby the first ring 6 is spaced from the second ring12. By the cooperation of the abovementioned movements of the respectiveelements, the ribs 5 are extended outward to present the opened framestructure as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, wherein the fourth ring 32 (as wellas the grip sleeve 34) is pulled upward along the outer shaft member 1by the second supporting spokes 33. Thus, the umbrella is automaticallyopened. In the opened condition, the tension spring 7 is extended viathe tension rod 8 to accumulate the force of restitution.

When the umbrella is to be closed, the push button portion 37b of thelatch 37 is pressed to disengage the claw portion 37a from the hole 1bof the outer shaft member 1, whereby the axial restriction between theouter shaft member 1 and the lower inner shaft member 4 is released.Therefore, the force of restitution of the spring 7 acts to pull theouter shaft member 1 upward with respect to the lower inner shaft member4 while closing the ribs 5. The upward movement of the outer shaftmember 1 causes a corresponding downward movement of the upper innershaft member 2 with respect to the outer shaft member 1, and therefore,the first and second rings 6 and 12 approach to each other. At the sametime, the spokes 14 and 14a are turned down, pushing the third ring 18downward via the connecting rods 19. By the closing movement of the ribs5, the fourth ring 32 is also pushed down via the supporting spokes 33to take the position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. Thus, the tip of thelatch 35 catches the hole 1a of the grip 34 and latches the fourth ring32 in the closed position. In this condition, the compression coilspring is in its extended loadless condition.

Next, the grip 9 is pressed upward to insert the lower inner shaftmember 4 more into the outer shaft member 1, while compressing thespring 10, until the claw portion 37a of the latch 37 catches the hole1b of the outer shaft member 1. Then, the umbrella is restored to theslightly opened condition as shown in FIG. 2.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that, in the automaticallyopenable and closable umbrella according to this invention, it is madepossible to use the compression coil spring 10 of such a high strengththat it covers the combined operation of the first and secondcompression springs in the prior art as described in the opening bymounting the spring between the intermediate and lower inner shaftmembers 3 and 4, on the provision that the intermediate inner shaftmember 3 is not pushed up at an abrupt stroke but is pushed up steppedlyin such a manner that the intermediate inner shaft member 3 is firstpushed up as much as the length of the slit 21 of the stopper coremember 20, and secondly the intermediate inner shaft member 3 is pushedup together with the upper stopper core member 20, the guide rod 23connected with the stopper core member and the lower stopper core member27 connected with the guide rod 23 as much as the length of the slit ofthe lower stopper core member 27. In this manner of stepped expansion ofthe spring 10, though it is strong, it is avoided that the structuralelements of the umbrella are subject to an excessive shock. Since it isavoided, according to this invention, to use such an outer compressioncoil spring that it provided around the outer shaft member of theumbrella of the prior art, the outside surface of the frame of theumbrella is simplified, rendering an improved appearance as well as animproved structure in the view points of handling and avoiding suchtroubles due to a complicated outside surface as accumulation of dust,catching of alien materials, etc.

I claim:

1. An automatically openable and closable umbrella comprising: a shafthaving a tubular outer shafi member, said tubular outer shaft memberslidably housing therein an upper, an intermediate and a lower innertubular shaft member; a first ring fixed to an upper portion of saidupper inner shaft member and pivotally carrying ribs and tension springmeans for closing the umbrella, said spring means each being connectedat one end to an intermediate portion of each of the ribs and at theother end to the first ring at a position spaced from the pivotallymounting position of the ribs; a second ring fixed to the outer shaftmember below said first ring and pivotally carrying first supportingspokes for supporting the ribs when they are opened; a third ringslidably mounted on said outer shaft member below said second ring andconnected with said intermediate inner shaft member to be coslidabletherewith along said outer shaft member and pivotally carryingconnecting rods; a fourth ring slidably mounted on said outer shaftmember below said third ring and pivotally carrying second supportingspokes for restricting the ribs when the ribs are close; a compressionspring for opening the umbrella, said compression spring being mountedwithin said outer shaft member and be] between said intermediate andlower inner shaft members; a first latch adapted to selectively engagesaid fourth ring with said outer shaft member; and a second latchadapted to selectively engage said outer shaft member with said lowerinner shah member; said umbrella being characterized by a guide rodassembly mounted within said outer shaft member and including meansconnecting said intermediate and lower inner shaft members in such amanner as to provide stepwise extension of the distance between saidintermediate and lower inner shaft members caused by said compressionspring in order to avoid an abrupt one-stroke expansion of thecompression spring which could otherwise cause an excessive shock to thestructural elements of the umbrella.

2. An umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the guide rod assemblycomprises: a guide rod and first and second stopper core membersconnected with end portions of the guide rod; said stopper core memberseach being provided with means defining an axial slit therealong; saidfirst stopper core member being connected with said intermediate innershaft member by a pin passed through said slit and carried by saidintermediate inner shaft member; said second stopper core member beingconnected with said lower inner shaft member by a pin passed throughsaid slit and carried by said lower inner shaft member.

3. An umbrella according to claim 2, wherein the total of the lengths ofsaid slits of said first and second stopper core members corresponds tothe displacement of said third ring due to opening or closing of theumbrella.

i I I I I

1. An automatically openable and closable umbrella comprising: a shaft having a tubular outer shaft member, said tubular outer shaft member slidably housing therein an upper, an intermediate and a lower inner tubular shaft member; a first ring fixed to an upper portion of said upper inner shaft member and pivotally carrying ribs and tension spring means for closing the umbrella, said spring means each being connected at one end to an intermediate portion of each of the ribs and at the other end to the first ring at a position spaced from the pivotally mounting position of the ribs; a second ring fixed to the outer shaft member below said first ring and pivotally carrying first supporting spokes for supporting the ribs when they are opened; a third ring slidably mounted on said outer shaft member below said second ring and connected with said intermediate inner shaft member to be co-slidable therewith along said outer shaft member and pivotally carrying connecting rods; a fourth ring slidably mounted on said outer shaft member below said third ring and pivotally carrying second supporting spokes for restricting the ribs when the ribs are close; a compression spring for opening the umbrella, said compression spring being mounted within said outer shaft member and held between said intermediate and lower inner shaft members; a first latch adapted to selectively engage said fourth ring with said outer shaft member; and a second latch adapted to selectively engage said outer shaft member with said lower inner shaft member; said umbrella being characterized by a guide rod assembly mounted within said outer shaft member and including means connecting said intermediate and lower inner shaft members in such a manner as to provide stepwise extension of the distance between said intermediate and lower inner shaft members caused by said compression spring in order to avoid an abrupt one-stroke expansion of the compression spring which could otherwise cause an excessive shock to the structural elements of the umbrella.
 2. An umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the guide rod assembly comprises: a guide rod and first and second stopper core members connected with end portions of the guide rod; said stopper core members each being provided with means defining an axial slit therealong; said first stopper core member being connected with said intermediate inner shaft member by a pin passed through said slit and carried by said intermediate inner shaft member; said second stopper core member being connected with said lower inner shaft member by a pin passed through said slit and carried by said lower inner shaft member.
 3. An umbrella according to claim 2, wherein the total of the lengths of said slits of said first and second stopper core members corresponds to the displacement oF said third ring due to opening or closing of the umbrella. 